Cartons containing coupons

ABSTRACT

The one-piece carton blank has the usual side-face-side-face order of panels with a securing panel attached to the outward edge of one of the side panels by a hinge crease. Secured along a line of severance to the outward edge of the securing panel is a coupon panel, a hinged portion of which projects upwardly beyond the upper ends of the principal panels. In the erected panel, the securing panel in one embodiment is of the same width as the remote side panel and is glued thereto, whereby the main portion of the coupon panel lies flat against the remote face panel. In another embodiment the securing panel is turned back medially, one-half being glued to a portion of the side panel, the coupon lying against the near face panel. The projecting portion of the coupon panel is adapted to be folded into the top closure structure between the closure flaps of the two side panels and the closure flap of that face panel against which the main portion of the coupon panel lies.

United States Patent [72] In entor les W- osenb g, Jr. Primary Examiner-James B. Marbert Tonawandfl, Att0rneyWatson, Cole, Grindle 8L Watson [21 Appl. No. 11,266 [22] Filed Feb. 13, 1970 [45] Patented Dec. 7, 1971 ABSTRACT: The one-piece carton blank has the usual side- A i F, N, B t C I face-side-face order of panels with a securing panel attached Buffalo, NY. to the outward edge of one of the side panels by a hinge crease. Secured along a line of severance to the outward edge of the securing panel is a coupon panel, a hinged portion of CARTONS CONTAINING COUPONS which projects upwardly beyond the upper ends of the prin- 7 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs. cipal panels.

229/39, In the erected panel, the securing panel in one embodiment is 206/1310 22 of the same width as the remote side panel and is glued 365d 5/10 thereto, whereby the main portion of the coupon panel lies flat FieldofSearch..... 229/39 40 against the remote face panel In another embodiment the zowmd securing panel is turned back medially, one-half being glued to a portion of the side panel, the coupon lying against the near face panel.

[ 5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS The projecting portion of the coupon panel is adapted to be folded into the top closure structure between the closure flaps sit-325L412 PATENTED n51: 7 IBTI I saw 2 or 3 CARTONS CONTAINING COUPONS This invention relates to receptacles and more particularly to cartons made of cardboard or the like, and to blanks from which they are formed.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved carton and blank of one-piece construction, and incorporating in its structure a detachable panel adapted to contain printed matter and to comprise a premium coupon or certiflcate of some value to the purchaser of the carton and its contents.

Novel features include the provision of a coupon adapted to be folded to occupy two planes, whereby one portion is disposed flat against a main wall panel of the carton and the other portion lying substantially in the plane of an end closure of the carton.

In certain suggested species of the invention, alternative novel means are provided for detachably securing the coupon to the main portions of the blank which comprise the several wall panels thereof, in order to attain the first mentioned feature.

Other objects and features of novelty will be understood from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which two embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank from which a carton comprising one embodiment of the invention may be formed;

FIG. 1A is a plan view showing an initial stage in the manufacture of the carton from the blank of FIG. 1;

FIG. 1B is an end view of the carton at a further stage, at which it may be shipped in substantially flat condition to the user;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the partially erected carton;

FIG. 3 is a similar view of the carton fully erected but with the top closure partly open to show the disposition of the coupon panel;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a blank from which a carton comprising another form of the invention may be erected;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of the carton shown in FIG. 4 showing the manner of folding the coupon panel during the erection of the carton;

FIG. 5A is a plan view showing a succeeding stage in the manufacture of this carton;

FIG. 5B is a similar view showing the carton complete for shipment to the user;

FIG. 5C is a sectional view taken on line 5C5C of FIG. 513;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the partially erected carton; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 3 showing the second embodiment in erected condition but with the top closure partially open.

In describing cartons of this character, the designations front and back are made arbitrarily, but for present purposes that face panel from which the outermost top flap extends will be referred to as the back face panel, and in the embodiment of the blank 10 shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings this panel is designated by the reference numeral 12. It will be seen that the back panel 12 in this view is flanked by side panels 13 and 14, the side panels being hinged to the back panel along the hinging creases l5 and 16.

Hinged along the crease line 18 is the front panel 20 to which is hinged the securing panel 21 along the crease line 23.

The coupon or certificate panel in this example is given the general reference numeral 25 and comprises a main portion 26 connected to the securing panel 21 by means of the perforated tear line 25'. An upward extension 27 of the coupon panel 25 projects beyond the upper edges of the enumerated main wall panels of the carton and is connected with the base portion 26 of the coupon by means of the fold line 28.

Hinged along the line 29 to the back face panel 12 is the top closure flap 30 to which is hinged, along the line 31, the closure tab 32. At the ends of the fold line 31 are the conventional slits 33 which provide interlocking means for insuring the tight closure of the carton.

Hinged to the respective side panels 13, 14 are the closure flaps or dust flaps 35 and 36. These flaps are notched or cut away on their inward sides as at 37 and 38 and are also notched on the outer sides as indicated at 39 and 40, for purposes which will be described in connection with the erection of the carton.

Bottom closure means are rather conventional and include the flap 42 with its tab 43 and the side flaps 44 and 45.

In the manufacture of the carton, the respective wall panels 20 and 21 are folded over upon each other along the crease 23 as a hinge, and then panels 12 and 13 are folded over along the crease 16 as a hinge, whereupon the panel 13 overlies and contacts the adhesive coated surface of panel 21 and adheres thereto. These successive steps are illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B of the drawings.

Under the usual circumstances this completes the process so far as the manufacturer is concerned; the carton being shipped in flat, knocked-down condition to the user in the form suggested in FIG. 1B.

In use, the customer will open up the carton to the condition shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings in which the back and front panels 12 and 20 are disposed in parallel relation as are also the side panels 13 and 14. The coupon panel 25 is folded along the tear line 25' to occupy a position flat against the back panel 12 and its closure flap 30.

Then the bottom closure elements 42, 43, 44 and 45 may be closed in the usual manner and the carton filled with its intended contents.

FIG. 3 shows graphically the manner of closing the top closure structure of the novel carton and the interfitting of the coupon panel 25 therewith to facilitate the containment thereof in the filled carton, and also the ease with which the coupon can be grasped and removed from the package by the ultimate purchaser.

First the flaps 35 and 36 of the sidewall panels 13 and 14 are turned inwardly and downwardly to coplanar positions and then the top flap 30 is folded down over the side flaps 35 and 36 with the upper portion 27 of the coupon 25 sandwiched between these side flaps and the top flap 30. The insertion of the closure tab 32 behind the front wall 20 is facilitated by the cutaway portions 39 and 40 of the side flaps 35 and 36, and the notches 33 at the ends of the fold line 31 of the flap 32 interlock with the root portions of the flaps 35 and 36 to secure the closure.

It will be readily seen that the coupon 25 is secured in substantially pilfer-proof condition within the carton, but upon raising the closure flap 30 the upper portion 27 of the coupon may be readily grasped with the fingers and the coupon severed along the tear line 25'.

In the blank of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the front face panel is designated 50 and is flanked by side panels 51 and 52 to which it is connected by crease lines 53 and 54. The back face panel 56 is connected to the side panel 52 by means of the crease line 55, and at its opposite edge the back panel is connected by crease line 58 to an edge of the connecting or securing structure 60. This securing structure or double panel includes the subpanels 61 and 62 connected along the centerline 63.

The coupon or certificate panel in this embodiment is designated 65 and comprises the base subpanel 66 and the upwardly extending panel portion 67 beyond the fold line 68. The base or inner portion 66 of the coupon 65 is connected to the securing subpanel 62 along the perforated tear line 70.

The bottom closure features are completely conventional and include the bottom closure flap 71 with its tab 72 and the side closure panels 73 and 74.

For closing the top of the carton there is provided the top closure flap 75 foldedly connected with the back panel 56 by the crease line 76. The top closure tab 77 is hinged to the flap 75 along the line 78 and locking slits 79 are provided at the ends of the line 78 for the usual purpose.

Side closure fiaps 80 and 81 are hinged respectively to the sidewall panels 51 and 52 along the fold lines 82 and 83, and these side flaps 80 and 81 have their inward edges notched out as at 86 and 87 and their outer edges notched as indicated at 88 and 89.

The front surface of securing panel 62 as seen in FIG. 4 is coated with adhesive, and as a first step in the manufacture of the carton, as suggested in FIG. 5, the double securing panel 60 is folded along its centerline 63 so that the panels 61 and 62 are disposed face to face and these subpanels are thus adhesively secured together. The severance line 70 will then coincide with the fold line 58 which connects the back panel with the securing panel, and the coupon 65 itself will lie flat against the back face panel 56 and its securing flap 75.

Adhesive is applied to the now exposed outer surface of panel 61, and the adjacent wall panels 52 and 56 are folded over along the crease line 55 which disposes the assembly as in FIG. 5A.

Next, as clearly depicted in FIG. 5B, panels 50 and 51 are folded over along the crease or hinge line 53, whereupon the remote portion of panel 51 overlies, contacts, and is adhered to securing panel 61. This completes the carton for shipping to the user.

In this embodiment of the invention, the doubling back of the securing panel 60 brings the coupon 65 fiat against the back panel structure 56, 75. In this respect, this embodiment differs from the embodiment of F lGS. 1 to 3 where the securing panel is single ply and of the same width as the side panel to which it is glued, and wherein the coupon is brought up against the face panel which lies at the far edge of the side panel to which the securing panel is glued.

The closing of the carton 101 is effected in substantially the same way as in the case of the first embodiment. The side flaps 80 and 81 are folded down into position and then the top flap 75 with its locking tab 77 brought down into position above the extension 67 of the coupon 65.

The cutaway portions 37 and 38 of the side fiaps 35 and 36 and the similar cutaway portions 88 and 89 of the side flaps 80 and 81 afford room for the coupon or promotional panels and 65 adjacent their fold lines 28 and 68.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A one-piece carton comprising main bounding panels connected successively by fold lines, alternate panels being parallel and comprising opposite walls of the carton, a securing panel extending from an end one of said main panels and means for attaching adhesivcly attaching an outward surface of said securing panel in face-to-face relationship to the inward surface of the opposite end one of said main panels, and a coupon panel comprising a detachable extension of said securing panel and for this purpose being joined thereto by a readily severable fold lines whereby said coupon is contained within said carton but may be readily severed therefrom along said edges.

2. The carton as set forth in claim 1 in which said securing panel is of the full width of the main panel to which it is secured, the coupon being attached to the remote edge of the securing panel and therefore disposed to lie, at least in part, against the inner surface of the third main panel away from the securing panel.

3. The carton as set forth in claim 1 in which said securing panel is not more than twice the width of the main panel to which it is secured, said securing panel being folded in half and return-bent to bring its remote edge, to which the coupon is detachably connected, in juxtaposition to its edge which is attached to said first named end panel, and thus to dispose said coupon to lie, at least in part, against the inner surface of the said first-named end main panel.

4. The carton as set forth in claim 1 in which a top closure flap forming part of the coupon is hingedly attached to one of the main panels and said coupon is of such a length as causes a portion of it to project beyond the top edges of said main panels, and the projecting portion of the coupon is folded over and enclosed and concealed by said top flap when the canon is closed.

5. The carton as set forth in claim 2 in which a top closure flap forming part of the one piece structure is hingedly attached to the upper edge of said third main panel and said coupon is a length which causes a portion of it to project beyond the top edges of said main panels, and the projecting portion of said coupon is folded over and enclosed and concealed by said top flap when the carton is closed, the coupon thus lying against the inner surfaces of both said third main panel and said main flap, the projecting portion of the coupon affording means, when the flap is opened, to grasp with the fingers to sever the coupon and withdraw it from the carton.

6. The carton as set forth in claim 3 in which a top closure flap forming part of the one-piece structure is hingedly attached to the upper edge of said first named end main panel and said coupon is of a length which causes a portion of it to project beyond the top edges of said main panels, and the projecting portion of said coupon is folded over and enclosed and concealed by said top flap when the carton is closed, the coupon thus lying against the inner surface of both said firstnamed end main panel and said flap.

7. The carton as set forth in claim 4 in which top closure flaps are also provided at the upper edges of the two main panels upon each side of said main panel to which first named closure flap is connected, the second-named top closure flaps adapted to be closed first and then the coupon folded and the first-named closure flap closed, thus enclosing the projecting portion of said coupon in laminar disposition between the firstand second-named flaps. 

1. A one-piece carton comprising main bounding panels connected successively by fold lines, alternate panels being parallel and comprising opposite walls of the carton, a securing panel extending from an end one of said main panels and means for attaching adhesively attaching an outward surface of said securing panel in face-to-face relationship to the inward surface of the opposite end one of said main panels, and a coupon pAnel comprising a detachable extension of said securing panel and for this purpose being joined thereto by a readily severable fold lines whereby said coupon is contained within said carton but may be readily severed therefrom along said edges.
 2. The carton as set forth in claim 1 in which said securing panel is of the full width of the main panel to which it is secured, the coupon being attached to the remote edge of the securing panel and therefore disposed to lie, at least in part, against the inner surface of the third main panel away from the securing panel.
 3. The carton as set forth in claim 1 in which said securing panel is not more than twice the width of the main panel to which it is secured, said securing panel being folded in half and return-bent to bring its remote edge, to which the coupon is detachably connected, in juxtaposition to its edge which is attached to said first named end panel, and thus to dispose said coupon to lie, at least in part, against the inner surface of the said first-named end main panel.
 4. The carton as set forth in claim 1 in which a top closure flap forming part of the coupon is hingedly attached to one of the main panels and said coupon is of such a length as causes a portion of it to project beyond the top edges of said main panels, and the projecting portion of the coupon is folded over and enclosed and concealed by said top flap when the carton is closed.
 5. The carton as set forth in claim 2 in which a top closure flap forming part of the one piece structure is hingedly attached to the upper edge of said third main panel and said coupon is of a length which causes a portion of it to project beyond the top edges of said main panels, and the projecting portion of said coupon is folded over and enclosed and concealed by said top flap when the carton is closed, the coupon thus lying against the inner surfaces of both said third main panel and said main flap, the projecting portion of the coupon affording means, when the flap is opened, to grasp with the fingers to sever the coupon and withdraw it from the carton.
 6. The carton as set forth in claim 3 in which a top closure flap forming part of the one-piece structure is hingedly attached to the upper edge of said first named end main panel and said coupon is of a length which causes a portion of it to project beyond the top edges of said main panels, and the projecting portion of said coupon is folded over and enclosed and concealed by said top flap when the carton is closed, the coupon thus lying against the inner surface of both said first-named end main panel and said flap.
 7. The carton as set forth in claim 4 in which top closure flaps are also provided at the upper edges of the two main panels upon each side of said main panel to which first named closure flap is connected, the second-named top closure flaps adapted to be closed first and then the coupon folded and the first-named closure flap closed, thus enclosing the projecting portion of said coupon in laminar disposition between the first- and second-named flaps. 